Education
B.S. 1996, King's College, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
J.D. 1999, Widener University School of Law Harrisburg Campus
Employment Information United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, currently assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, which recently redeployed from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Area of Practice
Criminal law prosecution
Bar Admissions Admitted to practice in Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, State of Minnesota
What did you enjoy most about your experience at Widener University School of Law? Although it was a large law school, my professors always took the time to give me the personal attention and direction needed to better develop the skills necessary to succeed in our profession.
Captain Murphy at a GlancePatrick J. Murphy, Esquire, is a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Regimental Judge Advocate for the 3,500 elite paratroopers in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad, Iraq.
As the coalition forces attorney for the 1.5 million people in the Al Rashid sector of Baghdad, he ensured the justice system was operating and effective, to include two courthouses and four police stations, and served as the de facto chairman of the District Advisory Council legal subcommittee. Additionally, he prosecuted three high-profile cases in Iraqi's newly established Central Criminal Court, trained hundreds of citizens for the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, and prosecuted 18 courts-martial.
His previous assignments include Assistant Professor of Law, United States Military Academy, where he taught Constitutional Law, Military Law and other classes as the youngest professor at West Point. A prolific writer with over 90 publications, his legal column entitled "Murphy's Law" was nominated for the Keith L. Ware Award as the best contributing writer for United States Army newspapers. Captain Murphy also served a previous deployment in 2002 as the Command Judge Advocate in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina during Stabilization Forces 11, and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in New York.
His awards include the Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, two National Defense Medals, the Army Expeditionary Medal, the NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold Standard), and the Service Ribbon.
Note: Alumni Spotlight is a quarterly feature on the Development and Alumni Relations website, highlighting a Widener University School of Law alumnus or alumna. If you know of someone who you think is worthy of recognition, please e-mail
law_alumni@mail.widener.edu.